Tuesday, March 13, 2018

I have been on a makeup kick because my skin is improved to the point where makeup is fun again! Lots of you have been missing my base and complexion product reviews, so I decided to swing by Bloomingdale's and test out the revamped Dior Forever Foundation Collection. The Undercover series is a departure from previous renditions and formulas thanks to new creative director Peter Phillips, and I can confidently say I approve.

I purchased the Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealerat the end of December and have worn it pretty consistently since. It provides sheer to medium coverage and lasts a good six hours so long as there is no rubbing involved. I think it would perform well under the eyes, but I have only tested this concealer formula on my blemishes and acne scarring which isn't exactly what it is intended for.

It's not supposed to crease or settle into fine lines in case you're curious; I know the vast majority of makeup aficionados need concealer to cover under-eye darkness. I try to avoid it unless it's a special occasion. I purchased 21 Linen which is my usual shade in Dior complexion products and it was surprisingly a touch too light. It is waterproof but blends easily so I'm able to make it work.

The Diorskin Forever Undercover 24-Hour Full Coverage Foundation, on the other hand, runs a whole shade darker so I still matched to 21 Linen. Because I liked the concealer, I figured I would have similar feelings about the foundation. Indeed, I give 8 out of 10 to both products. The color for this foundation is nearly a perfect match to my skin tone currently, but I would hesitate to call this a long-wearing foundation.

Now I give both 8/10 because I wish the concealer provided more coverage like the old discontinued DiorSkin Star, and I wish this new foundation was better at preventing my T-Zone from looking oily by the end of the day. That being said, I am an oddball and prefer not to have to deal with touch-ups. The Undercover Foundationinitially dries down very "dry" so-to-speak making it feel fresh and weightless even though it covers my redness well. Oh, and you get 1.3oz instead of your standard 1oz foundation bottle.

I do find that this Diorskin Forever Undercover 24-Hour Full Coverage Foundation looks best when worn at sheer to medium coverage because it looks most like real skin at that point. It is positively capable of full coverage with a pea sized amount and yes, it looks shockingly smooth without looking thick or caked on whatsoever, but full coverage is just not my style any more. My one major issue with this new formula is that it looks oily around my nostrils after three hours and breaks down around my mouth around five to six hours. Overall though it is an excellent water-based foundation and it performs much better than average on my very dry skin, but I recommend setting with powder and prepping trouble spots with a thicker moisturizer before application.

While testing the foundation, I wore it alone, with concealer, and then finished with the Diorskin Forever and Ever Control Loose Powderwhich I was the most curious about to be honest. I stopped packing on powder foundation and have happily moved on to loose powder now that I'm not hiding huge breakouts.

I primarily love the mess-free mesh overlay packaging. It is sleek and practical, and the powder formula one of the lightest and most impressive that Dior has ever produced. I've tried the Nude loose powder before but it was difficult to get a shade match and I found the shimmer too prominent. The air-whipped texture of this new Forever and Ever loose powder, however, is right up my alley. Plus how much cuter could the name get?

It doesn't even feel like I'm wearing powder, although my skin does look immediately velvety soft, smooth and matte without appearing dry. The formula absorbs excess sebum and neutralizes shine so it can be used for touch-ups throughout the day as well. I recommend using the included kabuki for that, but I start off my day by dusting it all over my face with a big fluffy powder brush with a lot of flex. The powder is super fine and nearly invisible so start off slowly because just like with the foundation, you don't need very much. Out of my entire haul, I would recommend the Diorskin Forever and Ever Control Loose Powder first and foremost. It's that good.

Then of course I couldn't leave without perusing the overwhelmingly jaw-dropping display of colorful lip offerings. I honed in on the brand new Addict Lacquer Stick in Underground which is a pink nude, which is a "My Lips but Better" rosy beige shade that glides on like butter. It feels like a luxurious lip balm which makes it tempting to reapply more often. There's an exclusive shade at Bloomingdale's called Melrose and for some reason, it is $2 less so check it out if you're looking for a pink-coral! Dior calls this new formula liquified shine and I would say that's an appropriate description. It's pigmented but shiny and soothing and hydrating and doesn't make my lips peel. Win.

The Dior makeup artist recommended that I top Underground with the Delicate Satin Rouge Dior Liquid Lipstick to create a true pink nude lip when I mentioned Underground was darker than I usually gravitate toward. It's a beautiful pairing. There are three finishes offered in this new long-wearing liquid lipstick formula, but I told her I have extremely sensitive dry lips so she said satin was my best bet. The pigmentation is rich and even, no feathering, and the sponge tip applicator is awesome! I love the tiny well that deposits the perfect amount of color so I don't constantly have to dip back into the tube. I don't know if I would purchase many more of these Rouge Dior Liquidsthough simply because I prefer the convenience of the Lacquer Stick.

Last but not least is the Abricot Nail Base Coat which was more of purchase driven by laziness. I have been giving my nails a break from gel manicures, but I forgot how time consuming it was to paint my nails and wait for them to dry completely. I'm really out of practice! But this Abricot base coat is unique because it's hard to find one that isn't too matte or too pink. It also hides how damaged and brittle my nails look.

I love that it makes my nails look a touch milky yet glossy and healthy and brighter! It acts as a protective barrier for my nails and lasts about five days worn alone so long as I'm not dunking my hands in chalk or working on my car. This will be my go-to nail product from here on out. It makes me — well my hands — feel clean and ladylike in under two minutes and it dries almost as quickly. One coat is all you need.